Farewell 4825

As rumours abound that 4825 is soon to be scrapped by ts current owner (Engenco), I thought I would pop up the few photographs I have this little Alco.  

There is nothing particularly significant about this locomotive, but in a way it is emblematic of the treatment of branch line diesel horse-power - a long period of stable operation over the early years, followed by a frentic and diverse service history later in life. 

4825 started service in February 1961, and was assigned to Goulburn by 1965.  From memory, it probably headed south as soon as the indian red livery had been applied, as the Railway's administrators were very keen to dieselise the southern branch lines as quickly as possible in the early 1960s.

The loco's southern posting meant that it rarely managed to stray near my canmera' s lens.  On the rare occasion it did, I muffed the shot.  Still, the once ordinariness of the subject matter - an afternoon workers' train on the Illawarra in the late 1970s - deserves reproducing approximately 35 years later.  Its all so... brown!

In the early 1980s 4825 scored a repaint. The 'high viz' yellow paint on both ends did not stay 'viz' for too long.  A decade later, by which time the loco had moved to DELEC, the yellow hue looked rather drab.

Not too long after this photograph was taken at Central, the locomotive was sold to the Silverton group of companies.  In new ownership it was repainted into a highly attractive yellow, with blue trim.  It was also renumbered into 8s32.

As a Silverton loco, it travelled throughout NSW and beyond. It also went through a number of ownership changes, during a fairly turbulent period for privately-owned railway businesses during the 90s and the noughties.

Sadly 48s32 proved too elusive for this photographer until one afternoon in 2008 when the veteran was captured.  Its time to wrap up this short entry with a few shots of 48s32 in its dotage.  

So, finally, after 51 years of yeoman service, it looks like the sun is about to set on 48s32 (nee 4825).
  
Cheers!